KKC Theory Wiki

The Cthaeh Is Selitos, Bound by His Own Blood-Oath to the Tree

fringe identity · popularity 328 · 2 source threads

The Cthaeh is actually Selitos, imprisoned by his own blood-binding, and opening the Lackless Box will free him.

About: The Cthaeh, Selitos

Also involves: The Chandrian, The Lackless Box, Kvothe, The Amyr, The Adem, The Lethani, Cinder, Aethe

The theory§

This theory identifies the Cthaeh as Selitos One-Eye, bound to the tree by the very blood-oath he used to curse Lanre's companions with their signs. The stone Selitos drove into his own eye, widely presumed to be the object sealed inside the Lackless Box, carries his blood, and so when Kvothe opens the box the binding is undone and the Cthaeh, which is Selitos, is freed. A broader strand fuses Selitos, Aethe, and the Cthaeh into a single precognitive 'Knower' standing behind the Amyr, the Adem, and the Lethani, citing Selitos's protection of his city through extraordinary 'vision' and the Cthaeh's repeated declaration 'I know.' Under this reading the Cthaeh, not the Chandrian, is the true antagonist of the series. The identification runs into chronology and authorial caution: Skarpi's account has Lanre speak with the Cthaeh before confronting Selitos, and Rothfuss has called the same-person-in-disguise reveal a cheap trick.

Evidence§

  • Selitos was said to be the most powerful knower, a group that appears to have precognitive abilities. … The cthaeh says "I know," indicating it is a knower.
    Core claim: Selitos is a Knower and the Cthaeh's "I know" marks it as one too. — u/OldMysteries
  • Selitos, a Knower, is said to have protected his city using his remarkable "vision." This makes much more sense as precognition rather than telescopic vision.
    Establishes Selitos's foresight as precognition, basis for the Knower identification. — u/OldMysteries
  • The wood from the Loeclos Box smells like the Cthaeh's tree, and it's possible it's what sealing the Cthaeh to the tree. (Yes, this is the theory that the contents of the box are the mountain glass Selitos used to gouge his eye out.)
    Links the Lackless box's contents (Selitos's eye-glass) to the Cthaeh's binding. — u/OldMysteries
  • the connection between the blood on Selitos’ eye-popping stone, which most of us presume is in the lackless box, and the binding that Selitos made, by his own blood. … opening of the box … will undo this binding and allow the Cthaeh/Selitos to leave the shackles of the tree
    The blood-binding mechanism: opening the box frees the blood-bound Selitos/Cthaeh. — u/CompulsivBullshitter
  • Selitos hates the Chandrian, and the Cthaeh dislikes Cinder if not all of them.
    Shared antagonism toward the Chandrian supports the identification. — u/OldMysteries
  • a requisite of opening the box is the “son who brings the blood” - who is Kvothe of course.
    Ties Kvothe as the blood-bringer who opens the box, fitting the binding mechanism. — u/CompulsivBullshitter
  • How does Iax speak to the Cthaeh before stealing the moon and sparkling the Creation War?
    CounterChronology counter: the Cthaeh predates Selitos becoming what he is. — u/mspe044
  • Can’t be, because it was said that Lanre talked with the Cthaeh before becoming Haliax and confronting Selitos. So can’t be the same person
    CounterSkarpi-account counter: Lanre meets the Cthaeh before facing Selitos, so they differ. — u/Fantastic_Beach_6847

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

merged 1 dupe (Cthaeh=Selitos); tier downgraded: identity rests on speculative chained leaps and author disfavours such reveals

Contributors§

Source threads§